Defect structures of a chiral liquid crystal in a thin cell

Skyrmion lattice formed by a liquid crystal

Abstract

We investigate numerically the ordered structures of a chiral liquid crystal confined in a thin cell when its most stable phase in the bulk is a cholesteric blue phase. We find various types of ordered structures made up of topologiacal defects that have never been discussed in the field of liquid crystals. They include a Skyrmion lattice with hexagonal symmetry, and a regular array of ring defects.